This book documents a decade of research, methodological innovation, and lessons learned in an eco-regional research-for-development program operating in the eastern African highlands, the African Highlands Initiative (AHI). It does this through reflections of the protagonists themselves—AHI site teams and partners applying action research to development innovation as a means to enhance the impact of their research. The book summarizes the experiences of farmers, research and development workers and policy and decision-makers who have interacted within an innovation system with the common goal of implementing an integrated approach to natural resource management (NRM) in the humid highlands. This book demonstrates the crucial importance of "approach" in shaping the outcomes of research and development, and distils lessons learned on what works, where and why. It is enriched with examples and case studies from five benchmark sites in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, whose variability provides the reader with an in-depth knowledge of the complexities of integrated NRM in agro-ecosystems that play an important role in the rural economy of the region. It is shown that the struggle to achieve sustainable agricultural development in challenging environments is a complex one, and can only be effectively achieved through combined efforts and commitment of individuals and institutions with complementary roles.

This edited book has been designed to serve as a natural resources engineering reference book as well as a supplemental textbook. This volume is part of the Handbook of Environmental Engineering series, an incredible collection of methodologies that study the effects of resources and wastes in their three basic forms: gas, solid, and liquid. It complements two other books in the series including "Natural Resources and Control Processes" and "Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering". Together they serve as a basis for advanced study or specialized investigation of the theory and analysis of various natural resources systems. The purpose of this book is to thoroughly prepare the reader for understanding the topics of global warming, climate change, glacier melting, salmon protection, village-driven latrines, engineers without borders (USA), surface water quality analysis, electrical and electronic wastes treatment, water quality control, tidal rivers and estuaries, geographic information systems, remote sensing applications, water losses investigations, wet infrastructure, lake restoration, acidic water control, biohydrogen production, mixed culture dark anaerobic fermentation, industrial waste recycle, agricultural waste recycle, recycled adsorbents, heavy metals removal, magnetic technology, recycled biohydrogen materials, lignocellulosic biomass, extremely halotolerant bacterial communities, salt pan and salt damaged soil. The chapters provide information on some of the most innovative and ground-breaking advances in resources conversation, protection, recycling, and reuse from a panel of esteemed experts.

This book, which contains 15 separately authored chapters, discusses both the principles and applications of an integrated approach to natural resource management. Such an approach must embrace the complexity of systems and redirect research towards the greater inclusion of issues such as participatory approaches, multi-scale analysis and an array of tools for system analysis, information management and impact assessment. Case studies, particularly from developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, are included. This book is of interest to a wide range of readers in many disciplines, including forestry, soil and management sciences, agriculture, and development studies.

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Natural resource management refers to the management of the utilization of natural resources like water, land, plants and animals with a focus on ensuring the sustainability of life in the present and in the future. It is also concerned with the management of the interaction between people and natural landscapes. Water management, suitable land utilization planning and biodiversity conservation are generally integrated with industrial activities of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, mining and tourism, to ensure sustainable management. A change in the hydrological cycles, ecological cycles, climate, plants and geography, etc. has far-reaching and long-term impacts. Natural resource management is achieved through the multiple approaches of top-down, adaptive management, precautionary approach, community-based natural resource management and integrated natural resource management. This book elucidates the concepts and innovative models around prospective developments with respect to natural resource management. It is compiled in such a manner, that it will provide in-depth knowledge about the theories and practices of effective natural resource management. It is a complete source of knowledge on the present status of this important field.

Natural resources support all human productivity. The sustainable management of natural resources is among the preeminent problems of the current century. Sustainability and the implied professional responsibility start here. This book uses applied mathematics familiar to undergraduate engineers and scientists to examine natural resource management and its role in framing sustainability. Renewable and nonrenewable resources are covered, along with living and sterile resources. Examples and applications are drawn from petroleum, fisheries, and water resources. Each chapter contains problems illustrating the material. Simple programs in commonly available packages (Excel, MATLAB) support the text. The material is a natural prelude to more advanced study in ecology, conservation, and population dynamics, as well as engineering and science. The mathematical description is kept within what an undergraduate student in the sciences or engineering would normally be expected to master for natural systems. The purpose is to allow students to confront natural resource problems early in their preparation.

The complex and dynamic interlinks between natural resource management (NRM) and development have long been recognized by national and international research and development organizations and have generated voluminous literature. However, much of what is available in the form of university course books, practical learning manuals and reference materials in NRM is based on experiences from outside Africa. Managing Natural Resources for Development in Africa: A Resource Book provides an understanding of the various levels at which NRM issues occur and are being addressed scientifically, economically, socially and politically. The book's nine chapters present state-of-the-art perspectives within a holistic African context. The book systematically navigates the tricky landscape of integrated NRM, with special reference to Eastern and Southern Africa, against the backdrop of prevailing local, national, regional and global social, economic and environmental challenges. The authors' wide experience, the rich references made to emerging challenges and opportunities, and the presentation of different tools, principles, approaches, case studies and processes make the book a rich and valuable one-stop resource for postgraduate students, researchers, policymakers and NRM practitioners. The book is designed to help the reader grasp in-depth NRM perspectives and presents innovative guidance for research design and problem solving, including review questions, learning activities and recommended further reading. The book was developed through a writeshop process by a multi-disciplinary team of lecturers from the University of Nairobi, Egerton University, Kenyatta University, the University of Zimbabwe, the University of Malawi, Makerere University and the University of Dar es Salam. In addition, selected NRM experts from regional and international research organizations including the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), the Africa Forest Forum, RUFORUM, IIRR and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) participated in the writeshop and contributed material to the book.